Lock



Nov. 2, 93?. T. H. JoHNsToNE LOCK Filed Oct. 30, 1953 ME ff wf Mw J m D w @@M -llO Patented Nov. 2, 19377 UNITED STATES PATE QFFiCE Application October 30,

19 Claims.

My invention relates to locks and particularly to locks of the cylinder type in which a cylinder is housed in a stationary casing and has radially shiftable tumblers which are normally projected to lock the cylinder against rotation in the casing but which, by the insertion of the proper key, are shifted to neutral position to permit rotation 'of the cylinder with the key and unlocking of the mechanism to which the lock is applied.

In the usual construction and arrangement in locks of this type a slot was provided in the stationary casing into which the tumblers projected to lock the cylinder against rotation but from which slot lthe tumblers were withdrawn by the insertion of a key in the cylinder so that the cylinder could then be turned. With such arrangement it has been comparatively easy to pick the lock by exerting rotational eiiort against the cylinder and then with a picking tool picking and withdrawing the tumblers one by one from the slot so that the cylinder could then be turned without need of the proper key,

The main object of the invention is to provide structure and arrangement for frustrating and preventing picking of locks of this type. In accordance withn'iy invention I provide a cylindrical shell or sleeve seated within the stationary casing and surrounding the lock cylinder and having aslot through which the tumblers projected from the cylinder mayextend, a locking pawl or bolt being provided to slide in the outer casing and being cam controlled by rotational movement of the cylinder and tending to shift into interlocking engagement with the cylinder upon such rotation thereof to lock the cylinder to the casing when attempt is made to pick the lock but being restrained from such interlocking engagement by the sleeve when the lock is operated by the proper key.

The details of the various features of the invention are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawing, in which drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lock structure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on plane III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on ure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on ure 3;

Figure 6 ure 3;

Figure 7 isl a section on ure 3; and' plane IV-IV of Figplane V-V of Figis a section on plane VI-VI of Figplane VII- VII f Fg- 1933, Serial No. 695,759 (Cl. 'l0-419) Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the operation when lock.

The structure shown comprises the outer cylindrical casing I0 having the bushing Il secured to it at its outer end which bushing has the flange l2 abutting the end of the casing. Within the casing is the cylinder i3 which bears at its outer end in the bushing and has the head I4 engaging against the flange i2 of the bushing. At its inner end the cylinder has the extension or neck i of reduced diameter which bears in the annular bearing lug I6 provided in the casing, the end of the cylinder body abutting against the adjacent end of the bearing lug.

The cylinder I3 has a row of diametrally extending passageways ll for the lock tumblers IS shown in 'the form of plates or wafers of varying lengths, springs i9 tending to shift the tumblers to project their ends beyond the cylinder periphery and the tumblers having the key passageways 2n for receiving a suitable key projected through the keyhole K by the insertion of which key the tumblers will be cammed to be withdrawn into the cylinder so that the cylinder may be turned. The casing has a row of circumferentially extending slots Zi therethrough for receiving the projected ends of the tumblers.

Seated within the casing and surrounding the cylinder is a cylindrical. has the longitudinally extending slot E3 for receiving the ends of the projected tumblers, the width of this slot being slightly greater than the width of the tumbler wafers. The outer end tumbler itl is preferably projectable through a slot 2li in the bushing I l which slot is of the same width as the slot 23. The engagement of this outer tumbler in the bushing slot prevents rotation of the cylinder except with the proper key and this tumbler must first be picked before the cylinder can be turned and attempt made to pick the other tumblers. The sleeve 22 is freely rotatable and its purpose is to frustrate and prevent picking of such other tumblers should the outer tumbler i8 have been successfully picked,

The annular bearing lug I6 within the housing has an axially extending slot or channel 25 therein in which a locking pawl or bolt 26 is slidable, and the cylinder body at its inner end has the locking slot projected at the proper time to lock the cylinder to the housing kto prevent rotation thereof for picking purposes.

A transmission rod or shaft 28 extends into the housing and into the bore of the neck l5 to shell or sleeve 22 whichv 2l therein into which the pawl is attempt is made to pick the 2 which it is secured by a pin 28 extending diametrally through the cylinder body and the end of the shaft. The shaft extends to mechanism 7(not shown) which is to be locked or unlocked by the operation of the lock structure.

Receiving the shaft 28 and journaled in the annular bearing lug I6 alongside of the cylinder neck I5 is a collar 29 through which a pin 30 is extended diametrally which pin extends through the longitudinal slot 3l in the shaft 28, the collar being thus rotatable with the .cylinder and the shaft but being axially movable on the shaft relative to the cylinder neck I5. The collar is separated from the cylinder neck by a space forming a cam way 3I which receives the cam post 32 extending from the locking bolt or pawl 26.- The cam channel extends circumferentially substantiallyv for 180 and through the intervening distance it takes a substantially V-Shaped course to provide the substantially V-shaped convex face 33 on the cylinder neck and the opposed V-shaped concave face 34 on the collar 29. Y

Secured on the shaft 28 outside of the casing I0 is an abutment collar 35 between which and the cam collar 29 a coil spring 36 encircles the shaft to exert pressure against the cam collar and to clamp the pawl post 32 against the cam surfaces 33 and 34. A spacer member 31 receives the abutment collar and is secured thereto by a pin 38 extending through the collar and the spacer member, the spacer member abutting against the outer end of the casing I and serving to hold the shaft 28 and cylinder structure against axial movement forwardly in the casing, the head I4 holding the structure against axial movement rearwardly in the casing. In the normal position of the lock structure indicated in Figures 2 and 3 the front end of the pawl or locking bolt 26 Vis held with its forward end behind the end of the cylinder body and out of the locking notch 21. The sleeve 22 has a tongue 39 extending rearn wardly therefrom in alignment with the tumbler receiving slot 23 in the sleeve and in the normal position of the lockV structure this tongue is in front of the locking pawl or bolt. The pin 2 which secures the shaft 28 to the cylinder structure projects a distance beyond the cylinder periphery at one side of the tongue 39 and serves to rotate the sleeve back to normal position after a rotational movement of the sleeve.

The extent of permissible rotation for the cylinder is controlled by a key or stop member 4B which is of T-shape with its top seated in the circumferential slot 4I in the front end of the bushing I l and whose vertical part 42 extends through a slot 43 in the bushing and into the circumferentially extending slot 44 in the cylinder I3 so that the extent of rotation of the cylinder is controlled by the length of the slot 44, this slot being approximately 180 in extent.

Describing now the operation, the normal position of the lock'is as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The front end o the locking bolt or pawl 26 is behind or in engagement with the portion 45 at the inner end of the cylinder body which for a distance of approximately 90 projects a short distance beyond the plane of the outer end of the locking slot 21, the sleeve tongue 39 terminating a short distance beyond this plane but short of the outer face ofthe portion 45. Now when the proper key is inserted in the lock all the tumblers will be withdrawn into the cylinder and the cylinder may be turned, the lock shown being designed for turning in clockwise direction with the key for unlocking operation of the lock. During turning of the cylinder with the key, the sleeve 22, being no longer engaged by the tumblers, will remain in its normal position due to its frictional engagement with the casing. The cam neck I5, the shaft 28 and the cam collar 29 will rotate with the cylinder and the cam surfaces will tend to shift the pawl or locking bolt forwardly but such forward movement is prevented so long as the pawl abuts the extended portion 45 on the cylinder, and while the bolt is thus blocked, the cam collar 29 will be shifted outwardly by its cam engagement with the pawl pin and the spring 36 will be compressed and energy stored therein. As rotation of the cylinder continues the extended portion 45 will be withdrawn from the end of the locking bolt but the sleeve tongue 39 will still be in the way of the pawl and will receive the pawl and hold its front end out of the locking slot 21 so that the cylinder can be turned the necessary distance for effecting unlocking operation of the lock. At the end of the cylinder rotation, that is when the end of the slot 44 in the cylinder abuts the stop member 40, the cam surface 34 on the cam collar 29 will be away from the pawl post 32 and the post will be engaged by a part of the cam collar end which lies in a diametral plane so that the pressure of the spring 36 against the cam collar will serve to exert sufficient friction to hold the cylinder in its turned position. When the lockis to be restored to locking position the key is turned in reverse direction and at the end of such return movement the cam surface 34 on the cam collar will again engage vnth the pawl post and the force of the spring will then assist in snapping the cylinder back to normal position with the pawl engaging the crest of the convex cam surface 33 and the bottom of the concave cam surface 34 and the lock will be yieldingly held in this normal position. During such reverse rotation oi" the cylinder the cam action withdraws the pawl from the sleeve tongue 39 and the projected portion 45 on the cylinder resumes its position in front of the pawl or locking bolt.

Suppose now that attempt is made to pick the lock. The first step would be to apply rotative effort to the cylinder with a suitable tool and then insert a picking tool and drawing in the outer tumbler I8 so that the cylinder can be rotated. However, as the cylinder is rotated, the sleeve 22 will be rotated therewith by the abutment thereagainst of the tumblers projected through the sleeve slot 23. With such rotation of the sleeve its tongue 39 will be moved away from in front of the locking bolt 26 and then as soon as the projected portion 45 on the cylinder moves away from in front of the locking bolt, the bolt is snapped into the locking slot 21 in the cylinder by the force of the spring 36 and then when the oncoming edge 21' of the locking slot abuts the locking bolt the cylinder will be locked against further rotation, the extent of rotation of the cylinder before locking thereof by the locking bolt being insuiiicient to cause unlocking operation of the lock. In Figure 8 the locking bolt has just been released and has moved into the slot 21 and is about to be engaged by the oncoming edge 21 of the slot for locking of the cylinder against further rotation.

After such automatic Vlocking of the cylinder to the casing against further rotation it will be irnpossible to pick the tumblers as the sleeve will not afford any abutment against which the tumblers could be crammed, the sleeve slot 23 being preferably slightly wider than thev'widths of the tumbler wafers, as shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 8, after release of the locking bolt from the projected portion 45 the cam mechanism will shift it further inwardly into the slot 21 until the oncoming end 27 of the slot engages the bolt and at vthat time the sleeve tongue 39 will have been rotated a corresponding distance away from the locking bolt end. In this final position the cam surface 34 on the cam collar 29 is still in engagement with the locking bolt post under pressure of the spring 35 and then, when the picking tools are withdrawn after a frustrated attempt to pick the lock, the cam mechanism will return the cylinder to its normal position, the locking bolt being withdrawn in advance of the returning sleeve tongue 39 and restored to its normal position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The projecting end of the pin 28 will engage the sleeve tongue as the cylinder is returned to normal position and will assure return of the sleeve 22 to normal position.

It is to be understood that the lock structure shown is, in practice, contained within a housing or frame to be fully enclosed. When thus enclosed it will be impossible to directly'engage the sleeve 22 with picking tools so that the sleeve will be free at all times to frustrate picking of the tumblers. Where an arrangement is used where the tumblers project in opposite directions from the cylinder the sleeve 22 may be provided with another slot 23 opposite the slot 23 and the casing will be provided with corresponding slots 2|.

I have shown a practical and eicient embodiment of the various features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as outlined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In lock structure, the combination of a casing, a cylinder rotatable in said casing and having tumblers therein with means tending to project said tumblers outwardly beyond the cylinder periphery, a sleeve rotatably journaled in said casing and surrounding said cylinder and having a slot for receiving the ends of the projected tumblers, said cylinder when said tumblers are withdrawn by the insertion of a proper key being rotatable without causing turning movement of said sleeve, locking means within said casing and means to cause'operation thereof to lock the cylinder against turning, and means whereby said sleeve will prevent operation of said locking means when said cylinder is turned after Withdrawal of the tumblers from the sleeve slot.

2. In lock structure of the class described, the combination of a casing, a cylinder rotatable in said casing and having tumblers therein with means tending to project the tumbler ends beyond the cylinder periphery, a sleeve rotatably journaled in said casing and having a slot for receiving the ends of the tumblers whenprojected whereby the sleeve will turn with the cylinder when rotated with the tumblers projected, said tumblers being withdrawn from the sleeve slot upon insertion of the proper key in the cylinder, locking means within the casing and means tending to operate said locking means to lock the cylinder against rotation when the cylinder is turned, stop means on said sleeve for'preventing operation of the locking means when the cylinder is turned independently of the sleeve after withdrawal of the tumblers by a suitable key, and means whereby said stop means will be prevented from interfering with the operation of the lock- Vmeans for operation when said lock moved without first withdrawing said tumblers,

.ing means when said sleeve is turned with the cylinder by projected tumblers.

3. In lock mechanism of the class described, the combination of a casing, a lock cylinder rotatable in said casing and having radially shiftable tumblers with means tending to shift the tumblers to project their ends beyond the cylinder periphery, a sleeve journaled in said casing to Ysurround said cylinder and having a slot to receive the ends of the tumblers when projected,

said tumblers being adapted to be withdrawn from the sleeve slot by the insertion of a proper key in the cylinder and said cylinder being then rotatable without causing rotation of said sleeve, said cylinder having a locking abutment, a locking bolt on said casing, means tending toshift said locking bolt for interlocking engagement with said abutment to prevent further rotation of said cylinder after an initial rotation thereof, stop means on said sleeve for preventing functioning of said bolt when said cylinder is turned independently of said sleeve after application of the proper key in the cylinder, and means where- -by rotation of said sleeve with said cylinder by projected tumblers will move said stop means away from said locking bolt whereby said bolt may function to prevent further rotation of said cylinder.

4. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking tumblers shift- -able therein to project therefrom, a controlling member, means whereby said controlling member will move with said lock member when said lock member is moved tumblers, locking means tending to lock said lock member against movement, and means whereby said controlling member will stopl said locking means from operating when said lock member is moved after withdrawal of said tumblers but will:

release said Vlocking said vlock member is said tumblers.

5. In a lock structure, the combination of a means for operation when moved without withdrawing having passageways with locking tumblers shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, locking means tending to lock said lock member against movement, a stop member normally positioned to prevent operation of said locking means and arranged to be moved to release said locking means for operation when said lock member is moved without the use of a proper key.

6. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking tumblers shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, locking means tending to lock said lock member against movement, a stop member normally positioned to prevent operation of said locking means and arranged to be moved to release said locking member is 7. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking tumblersl shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, locking means tending to lock said lock member against further movement after an initial movement thereof, a controlling member normally positioned to stop operation of said locking means when saidlock member is. moved after withdrawal of said tumblers, and means whereby movement of said lock member Without first withdrawing said tumblers will remove said controlwithout retracting said i" Cri ` casing, a lock member movable in said casing and a:

ling member from its normal position vto'thereby permit operation of said lockingmeansY and locking of said lock member against continued movement.

8. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking tumblers shiftable therein to` project therefrom, locking means controlled by the movement of said lock member tending to lock said lock member against further movement after an initial movement thereof, controlling means normally positioned to prevent operation of said locking means when said lock member is moved after withdrawal of said tumblers, and means whereby said controlling means is shifted' to permit operation of said locking means when said lock member is moved without first retracting said tumblers.

9. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a key operated lock member movable in said casing and having passagewayswith locking members shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, locking means tending to lock said lock member against movement, restraining means normally effective to prevent operation of said locking means but rendered ineffective upon movement of said lock member without the use of a proper key.

l0. In a lock structure, th'e combination of a casing, a key operated lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking members shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, spring actuated locking means tending to lock said lock member against movek ment and restraining means normally effective to prevent operation of said locking meansV but rendered ineffective upon movement of said lock member without the use of a proper key.

ll. In a lock structure, the combination of a casing, a key operated lock member movable in said casing and having passageways with locking members shiftable therein to normally project therefrom, a lock bolt carried bysaid casing, cam means operated directly by said cylinder effective to apply said bolt to said lock member upon movement of said lock member without the use of a proper key, and restraining means arranged to prevent functioning of said cam means when said lock member is moved by the use of a proper key.

12. In a lock structure, a lock casing, a key operated lock cylinder rotatable in said casing and having locking tumblers, a lock bolt, means tending upon rotary movement of said cylinder to move said bolt to lock said cylinder to said casing, and restraining means normally effective to prevent locking movement of said bolt but movable with said cylinder away from said bolt when said cylinder is turned without the use of a proper key.

13. In a lock structure, a lock casing, a key operated lock cylinder rotatable in said casing and having locking tumblers, a lock bolt, cam means tending upon rotary movement of said cylinder to move said bolt to lock said cylinder to said casing, and restraining means normally effective to prevent locking movement of said bolt but movable with said cylinder away from said bolt when said cylinder is turned without the use of a proper key.

14. In a lock structure, a lock casing, a key operated lock cylinder rotatable in'said casing and having locking tumblers, a lock bolt, spring actuated cam means tendingupon rotary movement of said cylinder to move said bolt to lock said cylinder to said casing and restraining means normally effective to prevent locking movement of said bolt but movable with said cylinder out ofthepath of said bolt when said cylinder is turned without the use of a proper key.

l5. In a lock structure, a casing, a cylinder having key operated tumblers, spring latch means, and means movable by a projected tumber for rendering said latch means effective to lock said cylinder to the casing upon attempted rotation of said cylinder without the use of a proper key and for rendering said latch means ineffective against rotation of the cylinder by a proper key.

16. In a lock structure, a casing, a cylinder having locking tumblers, an intervemng member having a tumbler receiving passage, locking means tending to lock said cylinder to said casing, said intervening member being normally in restraining position to'prevent functioning of said locking means, but being moved to nonrestraining position upon attempt to turn said cylinder before withdrawal of all the tumblers from said tumbler receiving passage.

17. In a lock, the combination of a casing, a key* operated lock cylinder in said casing having transverse passageways therethrough and locking tumblers shiftable in said passageways to normally project beyond the ends thereof and to be Withdrawn into the cylinder when a proper key is inserted in the cylinder, structure intermediate said casing and cylinder and having passageways coinciding with said tumbler passageways to receive the ends of projecting tumblers, locking means tending to lock said cylinder to said casing, said intermediate structure normally positioned to prevent functioning 'of said locking means but being movable with projected tumblers upon turning of the cylinder to release said locking means for operation.

18. In a lock structure, a lock casing, a key operated lock cylinder rotatable in said casing and having lock tumblers, a lock bolt, spring actuated cam means tending upon rotary movement of said cylinder to move said bolt to lock said cylinder to said casing, and restraining means normally effective to prevent locking movement of said bolt whereby said cylinder may be turned by the use of a proper key, said restraining means being movable with said cylinder out of the path of said bolt when said cylinder is turned by means of an implement other than a proper key, said spring actuated cam means being arranged to restore said cylinder and lock bolt to normal position upon withdrawal of the implement from said cylinder.

19. In a lock structure, a lock casing, a key operated lock cylinder rotatable in said casing and having lock tumblers, a lock bolt, means tending upon rotary movement of said cylinder to move said bolt to lock said cylinder against continuous rotation, restraining means normally effective to prevent locking movement of the bolt whereby said cylinder may be turned by use of a proper key, said restraining means being movable with said cylinder away from said bolt when said cylinder is turned a distance by ani, implement other than a proper key, and means for automatically restoring said cylinder to normal position after removal of the implement.

THEODORE H. JOHNSTONE. 

